The Nokia X5 is a budget phone with a premium glass body and a notch

You really have to hand it to Nokia. After being “the” phone company for years, the introduction of the iPhone really put the kibosh on its supremacy — despite the Lumia line. But after breaking away from Microsoft and Windows Mobile, Nokia is back in the game, releasing great phone after great phone for a variety of markets.

The Nokia X5 is Nokia’s budget handset with a glass body, dual-lens camera, and a notched display, and while it’s not going to be available outside of China as the X5, it’s expected that it will come to other markets as the Nokia 5.1 Plus. Here’s everything you need to know about the potentially strong budget handset, the Nokia X5.

Design and display

The Nokia X5 may be an entry into Nokia’s budget roster, but you’d be hard pressed to tell that just from looking at it. The X5 follows the design trends started by the iPhone X with a premium-feeling glass body on a plastic frame, and notched display. There’s a headphone jack at the top, and — surprisingly for a budget phone — it also includes a USB-C port at the bottom. You’ll find a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone, underneath the dual-lens camera.

The display itself is a huge 5.9-inch IPS LCD running a 1,520 x 720-pixel resolution in a 19:9 aspect ratio. That’s really long, but expect the screen to not be the sharpest you’ve ever seen, due to the low 720p resolution.

Specs and battery

Key Specs

CPU: Mediatek Helio P60 & octa-core processor

Memory: 3/4GB

Storage: 32/64GB

MicroSD storage: Up to 256GB

Screen size: 5.9 inches

Resolution: 1,520 x 720

Connectivity: GSM/CDMA/LTE

Battery: 3,060mAh

Size: 149.5 x 72 x 8.1 mm

Weight: 160 grams (5.64 ounces)

Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (as Android One)

As you might expect from a low-cost, budget handset, the Nokia X5 has some modest specs. It’s powered by a Mediatek Helio P60 chipset and octa-core processor, and equipped with either 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. While it’s unlikely to be the most powerful handset around, it should be capable of a decent level of performance, having similar specs to the Unihertz Atom.

The whole package is powered by a 3,060mAh battery that should provide at least a day of power when paired with the modest specs and the 720p resolution. Despite the glass body there’s no wireless charging, and no specific fast charging method either — but both of these are par for the course for cheaper handsets.

Software and special features

The Nokia X5 comes with the latest version of Android 8.1 Oreo, running as Google’s lightweight Android One OS. Android One ensures that Google can deliver updates directly to the device without having to go through Nokia — meaning the Nokia X5 should stay up to date with security patches as Google pushes them out. Android One also comes with a time-based update guarantee for users, too, and the Nokia 5.1 Plus will be supported with OS updates for two years, and security patches for three years — so you can be sure the Nokia 5.1 Plus will be kept up to date.

Camera

Happily for a budget phone, the Nokia X5 is coming with a decent suite of cameras. There’s a dual-lens camera system on the back of the phone, sporting a 13-megapixel and a depth-sensing 5-megapixel lens, with an f/2.0 aperture and PDAF capabilities. There’s a decent 8-megapixel selfie camera around the front, and it’s probably fair to expect Nokia’s fun “bothie” feature to return, which will allow users to take pictures using both the front and back cameras at once.

Release date and price

The Nokia X5 is currently up for pre-order in China for just 999 yuan (roughly $150) for the 32GB model and 1,399 yuan (roughly $210) for the 64GB model.The X5 is available in black, blue, and white.

While nothing has been announced, it’s currently expected that the Nokia X5 will be coming to other markets as the Nokia 5.1 Plus.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Everything we know about the Nokia 6.1 Plus
• HMD Global is releasing the $159 Nokia 3.1 in the U.S. in early July
• New Nokia 5.1, 3.1, and 2.1 boast updated chipsets and bigger displays
• Everything you need to know about the HMD Global 2018 Nokia X
• Nokia 6.1 review

How to improve your Android privacy

The value of your data is difficult to quantify, but you can be sure that there are plenty of companies, government agencies, and yes, even criminals trying to get a hold of it. Google is built upon data, and it offers some of the best software services around to gain access to your data and then analyze it for valuable insights.

Read more about Android security

Android security guide

Best Android security apps

Best VPN for Android

Is Android really insecure?

It’s not easy to opt out of this deal completely and still use Android, so if you’re really concerned about your privacy you might want to consider switching to iOS or ditching your smartphone altogether.

While you may have to accept that you’re surrendering some privacy to use Android, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and to limit the data that is being collected and potentially harvested and sold on to others.

Secure your phone

First and foremost, it’s important to set up security to block people from picking up your phone and gaining access to everything that’s on there. If you go into Settings > Security & Location > Screen lock on a Pixel, or Settings > Lock screen and security on a Samsung Galaxy, then you can set up a pattern, password, PIN, or a fingerprint to unlock your phone.

A strong alphanumeric password might be your best bet for security, but it’s not very convenient. For most of us a fingerprint is the best balance between security and convenience, but if you’re concerned about law enforcement compelling you to unlock your phone, then you might want to avoid using your fingerprint.

Hide notifications and sensitive content

Andy Boxall/DigitalTrends.com

If you don’t like people looking over your shoulder while you read, spotting parts of messages in notifications that pop up on the lock screen, or peeping at private photos, then you can act to protect them.

Start by looking in Settings > Notifications and tweak which apps can send notifications and precisely where they should appear. Specifically, you’ll want to turn off Lock screen notifications or choose to hide sensitive content.

Sometimes you’ll want to hand your phone to a friend to show them a photo, but you don’t want them browsing through your gallery. Check out how to hide photos on your Android for advice on locking away private photos and videos from prying eyes.

If you want to guard against snoopers peeking at your phone screen while you read, then you might be interested in BlackBerry’s Privacy Shade. It does, unfortunately, require a subscription fee as part of BlackBerry’s Hub+, but that also nets you the Password Keeper and some other handy services.

Restrict app permissions

A lot of apps ask for permissions that they don’t really need unless they’re collecting data on you and selling it. Look in Settings > Apps and tap the gear icon or three vertical dots at the top right then App permissions. If it seems fishy to you, then revoke the permission and investigate.

Apps that request a lot of permissions that seem unrelated to their core functionality should be uninstalled. If in doubt, do some research online by Googling the app name and “privacy” or “security” and see if anyone has raised concerns.

Encrypt your data

The vast majority of Android phones are encrypted by default now, but you can always check by going into Settings > Security, Settings > Security & Location, or Settings > Lock screen and security to look for an encryption option. If you use a MicroSD card then there might be an option to encrypt that, too.

Use Find My Device, or don’t

Google’s Find My Device service tracks the location of your Android phone or tablet and allows you to trigger a remote wipe. This might be a good way to protect your data if your phone is stolen. When it’s turned on you can just type “find my device” into Google, if you’re signed into your account, and it will show the location on Google Maps.

Of course, you may not want Google tracking your movements, in which case you can turn it off. It should be turned on by default, but you can check via Settings > Google > Security > Find My Device.

Run Google’s Security Check-up

It’s a good idea to take a look at Google’s Security Check-up and see if you have any old devices still associated with your account. If you do, then remove them immediately. Google will also highlight strange sign-ins and apps with access to your data.

Turn off Google activity tracking

By default, Google tracks your usage of its services and keeps a record of all sorts of things, from your movement on Google Maps to every video you watch on YouTube. It’s possible to toggle this activity tracking off by going to the activity controls page of your Google account. Bear in mind that this might hobble some services.

Turn off automatic backups

It can be a good idea to have automatic backups if you want to ensure you don’t lose precious files, but you may not want to share data with Google and other companies. Turning off Google backups is easy, simply go to Settings > Google > Backup and toggle off Back up to Google Drive or finetune your backup settings.

Many phone manufacturers also offer backup services that you may have set up when you first set up your phone. With a Samsung phone, for example, you’ll want to look in Settings > Cloud and accounts > Samsung Cloud.

If you do decide to turn off automatic backups, then make sure that you regularly back up your photos and other precious files manually or you run the risk of losing them.

Disable ad tracking

If you find targeted ads based on what you browse to be creepy or you just don’t like the idea of Google building a profile for ads based on your activity online, then go to Settings > Google > Ads and toggle Opt out of Ads Personalization on.

Use a VPN

Chances are good that when you connect to the internet through mobile data your carrier is collecting data on every website you visit. When you connect through your home Wi-Fi you can bet your ISP is doing the same thing. Many Android devices are also configured to connect to Google’s DNS servers, so Google can see every website you request.

You can hide your IP address and encrypt your web browsing by using a VPN service. Check out our top VPNs for Android to get some ideas.

Change your browser and search engine

Even if you disable tracking and use a VPN, Google can still track your activity in Chrome or when you use it for search. If you switch to something like Firefox as your default browser and use a search engine that doesn’t track users, like DuckDuckGo, then you can prevent the collection and sale of your browsing data.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Selling your phone or tablet? Here’s how to wipe your Android phone
• How to use BlackBerry’s Privacy Shade
• Galaxy S7 tips and tricks
• Switching from an iPhone to an Android device
• You can now set Amazon Alexa as the default home assistant on your Android

Get your moon boots ready: Samsung’s new VR experience launches you into space

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Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Forty-nine years ago, two men walked on the moon for the first time in history. NASA is preparing a wide-range of celebrations for the 50th anniversary next year, but Samsung can’t wait to get started. The South Korean company is kicking off a year-long 4-dimensional virtual reality experience to simulate a moon-like environment, so everyone can step into the shoes of the dozen humans who have walked on the moon.

It’s largely a way to show off Samsung’s technology, as the experience utilizes a Gear VR headset and a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, but Samsung also worked with the NASA Johnson Space Center to develop a system similar to the space agency’s Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS), a rig that astronauts train with to experience low-gravity environments. The rig — paired with a flight suit, the Gear VR, and the Galaxy S9 Plus — allow people to visualize the moon’s surface from a new perspective, and also experience low gravity.

This is an opportunity to excite the astronauts of tomorrow.”

“[NASA] is really excited about reigniting the public discussion around space exploration — specifically around the moon — as we lead up to the 50th anniversary of the moonwalk next year, but also because the moon plays a critical role in the first manned mission to Mars,” Zach Overton, Samsung’s vice president of brand experience and general manager of Samsung 837, told Digital Trends. “For them, this is an opportunity to excite the astronauts of tomorrow around the mission. For us, on the one hand it was democratizing an experience that only 12 men have done before, and we think that should be something for everybody … But it’s also a way of exciting youth and adults alike in science and math and engineering, and of course, technology.”

Digital Trends got a sneak peek of the VR experience before it opens on July 20 — here’s what it’s like.

This is Mission Control

From the beginning to the end, the staff managing the VR experience will affirm they truly are Mission Control. “Welcome, astronaut!” will be the first words you hear as you enter the bay doors, designed to look like the interior of the spaceship in every sci-fi movie. We had to put our belongings away in a locker, and then watch a short video describing the experience, and what we shouldn’t do. Then comes suiting up.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

With the help of two people, we donned a flight suit designed with the help of NASA. It feels quite tight, and there are sensors on the suit to help track movements in VR. Next is the helmet, which is built around a Gear VR headset. After it was snug around our head, we were taken to the ARGOS-like rig. A technician hooked us up to the harness, and we had to comply with a few quick tests to confirm everything was good to go. We had to pull the Gear VR headset down in front of our eyes for the show to start.

We started in the Lunar Module, and we had to press the primary button on the Gear VR controller to open the bay door. That’s when we had to start hopping. Essentially, you’re jumping in real life, but the harness will pull you higher into the air (not too high), and it will then gradually lower you until your legs hit the ground. Each jump in real life will move you forward as a low-gravity hop in the VR experience. We followed a rover to the edge of a crater where we could see earth, but the crater’s edge started to crumble, and we quickly had to jump out of the way.

We then got a chance to plant our flag anywhere, but soon after things started to get dangerous. There’s a meteor shower, with meteors striking the ground all over — we were commanded to race back to the Lunar Module. The last 20 seconds involves us hopping as fast as we can to get inside, and there really is a sense of urgency as a crack appeared on our visor. Thankfully, we made it safely. Mission Control says the mission was a success.

We were steered back into the suit-up bay, where we were awarded two patches and a pin for completing the mission. We stripped the flight suit off, and the magic kind of wears off.

Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends

This is easily the most immersive Gear VR experience we’ve ever tried, and it’s all thanks to the ARGOS-like rig. We’ve never experienced low or zero gravity, but we imagine it feels extremely similar to what Samsung’s offering here. That being said, this is a souped up Gear VR experience — the sensors mounted on the flight suit allowed us to look at our hands in VR, which you can’t do with your Gear VR at home. You’ll want to keep hopping all around on the moon.

A Moon For All Mankind, which is what Samsung’s calling the experience, lasts about 20 minutes or so, and more types of content will be added throughout the year so you can always come back another time to try something new. It’s free, but sadly it’s only available at Samsung 837 in New York City, the company’s product experience hub that’s open to the public. It will be running through July 2019, right in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

You can simply walk in and get in line, though the wait may be long, or you can reserve a time on the Samsung 837 website.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Get your Sagan on with 60 awe-inspiring photos of the final frontier
• NASA reveals its plans to have astronauts orbiting the moon by 2025
• Blackberry Key2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus: Is it a contender?
• SpaceX says it won’t send space tourists around the moon just yet
• Best Gear VR apps and games

Are screen protectors for your phone worth it?

A little protection never hurt anyone.

When it comes to protecting your phone, the two go-to accessories are often cases and screen protectors.

There are a variety of cases ranging from super-slim ones to heavy-duty options, and with screen protectors, you have your choice between a plastic film or tempered glass.

Using both of these at once is the ultimate way to protect your device, but if you’re already using a case that comes up over the screen, is it really necessary to use a screen protector, too?

Here’s what some of our forum users have to say on that matter.

ankit_khandelwal
07-17-2018 09:11 PM

“

No. Just get a good case with screen bumbs to provide resistance when phone drops on the ground.

Reply

PachecoCorporationCeo
07-18-2018 02:59 AM

“

Like this person said screen protectors aren’t necessary but cases vary. I regret not putting one on my pixel 2 it has a lot of micro scratches now.

Reply

Morty2264
07-18-2018 03:21 PM

“

I definitely see the need for one – but moreso based on my usage patterns and my paranoia about breaking my sensitive technology. I’m always afraid to drop my phone or that the screen will crack or get scratches; so a tempered glass screen protector that has a “like glass” look and feel is the only way to go for me.

Reply

TripleOne
07-18-2018 06:02 AM

“

I no longer use screen protectors on my devices. I’ve only had the Pixel 2 XL for a week and I’ve got micro scratches on it already.

Reply

Now, we’d love to know what you think — Is it important to use screen protectors on phones?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Best PlayStation 4 Controllers in 2018

A great PS4 experience deserves a great controller.

The stock controller for the PlayStation 4 is very good, but it’s not for everyone. Fortunately, there are a lot of options out there that offer a different experience and cater to different markets. Whether you’re a competitive gamer, have kids who want to play, or just want to sharpen up your experience, a good controller is important. Pick up one of these options if you’re looking for something to change up your play.

• Scuf Impact
• Razer Raiju
• Sony DualShock 4
• Nacon Revolution
• Hori Mini Wired Gamepad
• Hori Onyx

Scuf Impact

Scuf controllers are used by a large portion of the pro-gamers who play on console, and the Impact is the company’s latest and greatest effort for the PS4. The basic shape is the same as the regular PlayStation DualShock 4, but the grips are longer and the whole thing is less angular.

As a result, you have room for four paddles on the back which can be remapped with Scut’s EMR technology to whichever face buttons you wish. There are also trigger stops for faster reactions in shooters and wireless charging over a regular micro USB cable.

None of the major features of a PS4 controller are lost. You still get the headset jack at the bottom and the trackpad remains where it should be. As it’s a Scuf, though, you can customize the dickens out of it with wild paint jobs and different style or size analog sticks. It isn’t cheap, starting at $140, but it’s as close to the ultimate PS4 controller as you can get right now.

See at Scuf Gaming

Razer Raiju

Razer doesn’t mess around when it comes to making gaming peripherals and the Raiju is no exception. It’s specifically designed for esports and the pro players that compete in them. While the main layout is the same as you’d find on a standard controller, that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Like the Scuf Impact, the shape is less angular and really comfortable to hold. Bear in mind that the Raiju is a wired controller, but you do get a nifty audio control bar at the bottom to manage your party chat and in-game audio levels.

Around the back, you’ve got a couple additional triggers and two more buttons on top next to the bumpers. These are a staple on pro-class controllers and while Razer’s implementation is pretty unique to the Raiju, the end result is the same. It’s tough and feature packed, albeit a little pricey at $150.

See at Amazon

Sony DualShock 4

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The DualShock 4 is the standard controller that comes in the box and therefore, comes with the design we’ve come to expect.

That means analog sticks in the center, D-Pad to the left and buttons to the right, with bumpers and triggers where you’d hope to find them. The DualShock 4 is the first to implement a touchpad, and you get a neat glowing lightbar that has applications beyond just looking pretty.

If you like it already but wish it were a little more interesting, Sony has a range of different colors available. The red one here is pretty hot at $44, but new variants keep appearing all the time.

See at Amazon

Nacon Revolution

Some folks love PS4 but wish the controller was more like the Xbox One’s with it’s offset analog sticks. Many find this layout more ergonomic, which makes the Nacon Revolution a great option to try. It’s wired, so you can’t sit too far away from the console, but the shape and layout are pretty similar to what you’d find with the Xbox.

It’s also another pro-grade controller, which means you’ve got additional buttons on the back so you can keep firing without taking your thumbs off the sticks.

In advanced mode you can switch between four different profiles, where the buttons can be remapped, sensitivity and dead zones can be adjusted,and you can even assign macros, which are useful in fighting games. It’s also cheaper than other pro-grade controllers at $94.

See at Amazon

Hori Mini Wired Gamepad

Need a solid controller for younger, smaller hands that doesn’t cost a lot? Or maybe you’re a traveling PS4 gamer that needs something compact. That’s where the excellent Hori Mini Wired Gamepad comes in.

As the name implies, this is a wired controller, but it’s also small. It’s a good deal more compact than a regular controller, with a flat profile rather than the angled design of the standard controller. The touchpad is missing, which is OK, but there’s a button in place for when you might need it.

The cable is 10-feet long, so you can get a decent distance away from your console, and it comes in a lovely shade of blue. It’s also only $30, which makes it a no-brainer if you have kids.

See at Target

Hori Onyx

If you’re a PS4 gamer but you’ve always prefered the style and feel of an Xbox controller, I have great news for you.

The Hori Onyx controller gives you all the same functionality of a PS4 controller in a different form. You get a wider and beefier grip with offset analog sticks, so you get the same sensation playing on your PS4 as you would on your Xbox.

We live in a modern and wonderful world where we can all customize our gaming expereince to suit our own needs and comfort levels. If this controller seems right for you, you can pick it up for $90 at Amazon

See at Amazon

What controller did you pick up for your console?

Let us know which one is your favorite down in the comments below!

Updated July 2018: We’ve updated this post with the Hori Onyx.

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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Three ways Android Auto drives circles around Apple CarPlay

If you want to use your phone in the car, then Android is your best bet — and for many, it’s your only option.

Using your phone in the car is an often awkward and often downright dangerous task. No one in their right mind should be using their phone one-handed while they drive to text, call, or open up some music. With this in mind, both Google and Apple have standardized, easy-to-use car modes for their mobile platforms, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Both have been around for years now, but the gap between them has been slowly widening and widening as they drive towards maturity.

And Android Auto is leaving Apple CarPlay in the dust, thanks to three performance boosts.

The one place Android beats Apple in apps

Third-party maps and apps

Android has traditionally been more welcoming of third-party apps, especially when it comes to setting them as the default for system actions and preferences. Nowhere is this more apparent and appreciated than in the car, as one of the biggest pitfalls with Apple CarPlay today is that it forces you to use Apple Maps over more popular navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze. Apple looks to finally remedy this in iOS 12, to the cheers of Apple users everywhere, but maps isn’t the only app category where CarPlay is lacking over Android Auto.

When you get in the car, music isn’t the only thing you might want to listen to, but Apple CarPlay is sorely lacking when it comes to media apps compatible with the service, and most of the media apps available are music subscription services. Android Auto, on the other hand, allows media apps of all kinds to work in Android Auto, from podcast apps and audiobooks to radio show apps and even police scanner apps. And of course, there are dozens and dozens of music apps that support Android Auto, both streaming music subscription services and local MP3 players.

Additionally, since Android Auto strictly regulates the layout of media apps in Android Auto, no matter which app you use, they’re all equally easy to use and navigate.

Assistant for the assist

Voice control reliability and flexibility

It’s no secret that Google Assistant has long surpassed Siri as a voice assistant, and that dominance is just as apparent in the car as it is on the phone. Google Assistant’s AI prowess allows it better recognize commands on noisy roads, and its AI better recognizes the contexts and actions within those commands so that Google can do what you actually want instead of embarrassing you in front of your whole carpool.

Google Assistant in the car can tie into Google Assistant actions for smart homes and other devices. The Broadcast command that will let you announce that you’re on the way home with the pizza while you’re pulling out of the parking lot, and smart home controls allow Google Assistant turn down the AC so that the fan’s blowing when you walk out of the sweltering Texas heat into your apartment.

Look, ma, no car!

Android Auto has the ultimate compatibility: Running independently

While I love having a shiny, new car with a shiny, new Android Auto-compatible radio, I had been needing a car for three years already. Most people are not, nor are most people inclined to spend hundreds of dollars on a new radio when their current radio is still technically functional. That’s okay, because this is where Android Auto’s biggest ace in the hole shines through.

You can use Android Auto independently of any car, or any other transportation device you use.

Android Auto has been able to run natively on your phone since 2016, meaning that whether you’re rocking a car from 2018 or 1918, you can use Android Auto in your car so long as you’ve got an Android phone and a place to mount your phone in your car. Is the experience quite as seamless as using it through a car stereo with steering wheel controls? No, it’s not, but you still get the larger distraction-free UI, the hands-free map/call/music controls and you can set Android Auto to launch every time your phone pairs with the Bluetooth in your car.

To use Android Auto after your initial setup, all you need to do is turn on your car, put your phone on its designated mount, and start driving.

Read more: How to set up Android Auto on your phone so you’ll actually use it

Are you ready for a test drive?

While Apple could start catching up with the updates to CarPlay in iOS 12 this fall, Android Auto is still the best by far today thanks to Google Assistant and the independence of being able to run Android Auto without hooking it up to one of a few hundred compatible radios.

All About Android Auto

• Getting started with Android Auto in your car
• Using Android Auto natively on your phone
• Android Auto news
• Waze on Android Auto
• Join the Android Auto discussion!

What’s new in August 2018 on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu

You read that right. It’s almost August. Here’s what’s new on Prime Video. And Hulu.

Let us just put things like this: There are so many great old movies available on Amazon Prime Video in August — that is, for free with your Prime Membership — that we can’t list them all here. (We can, however, list them at CordCutters.com, so hit that link below.)

But, really, August means we’re finally going to get to see John Krasinski as Jack Ryan. OK, at the end of August, but still in August. It can’t come soon enough.

As for Hulu? Well. There’s also a ton of great content — movies, shows and more. In a word? Terminator!

Read: What’s new on Prime Video for August 2018Also: What’s new on Hulu for August 2018

Update July 19: Added Hulu’s listings for August.

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Instagram’s new Q&A feature is a bigger deal than you think

Bringing the photo platform another step closer to being a full-fledged social platform.

If you’ve been on Instagram in the last week or so, you’ve probably noticed some of your friends using the new Questions feature in their Stories. You might have even tried it for yourself — it attaches to an image or video in your Story just like any other sticker, and you can add whatever you want to the text field, resize or move the sticker, and field replies to answer and post to your Story.

You might even already be annoyed with the feature and how many Story posts it encourages — every time you answer a question, it gets shared to your Story unless you choose to send your response directly to the person who asked. Some users’ Stories are longer than ever as they try to answer every question that crops up, but don’t worry. As with any new feature rollout, use will settle down as more and more people get the initial urge to try it out of their systems.

Whether or not you like the implementation of Questions in Instagram Stories, they’re a much bigger deal than you might think. Over the last few years, Instagram has gradually been inching away from its initial positioning as a social network strictly for photos. At first, it gained support for 15-second videos, then 60 seconds, and now IGTV supports long-form video up to an hour long.

On top of adding video support, Stories completely overtook Snapchat with ephemeral images and videos, filters, and add-ons like location stickers and polls. The new Questions sticker builds onto Instagram’s empire with a more interactive and engaging nature; aside from polls, Stories have been more or less one-sided, giving your followers a peak into the behind-the-scenes goings of your daily life. Sure, you could send someone a direct message in reference to their Story, but this is different. This is entirely open-ended and public.

While it may be a bit annoying at first that every answered question takes up a post in your Story, it fills an important role in allowing Instagram to replace even more services. At this point, It’s hard to imagine Instagram replacing sites like YouTube entirely, but a few years the same could be said about Periscope, Snapchat, and Vine. Questions obviates the need for popular Q&A sites like Ask.fm, Curious Cat, and to some extent, even Tumblr. It’s almost even like Twitter in a way. If Instagram’s goal is to keep you from going elsewhere — and it is — this takes them a step further in the right direction.

Have you tried Questions yet, or at least seen others use it? Do you like its open-ended nature, or are you tired of scrolling through endless answers in your feed? Let us know in the comments below!

Download: Instagram (free)

Google’s Fuchsia OS may replace Android in 5 years

The end goal is to have Fuchsia on phones, computers, smart speakers, and more.

Ever since 2016, Google’s been chugging along with the development of a new operating system called “Fuchsia.” Fuchsia’s been expected to replace Android at some point down the road, but the timeline for this has been pretty murky — at least until now.

A new report recently popped up from Bloomberg, and according to sources that spoke with the publication:

Ultimately the team [Google’s Fuchsia team] aspires to swap in their system for Android, the software that powers more than three-quarters of the world’s smartphones, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. The aim for this is to happen in the next half decade, one person said.

Furthermore, Google also plans to have Fuchsia running on smart speakers and other “connected home devices” within the next three years.

Bloomberg’s report goes on to reiterate things we’ve already been anticipating for Fuchsia, most notably how Google wants it to eventually be the single operating system that powers smartphones, tablets, computers, smart home devices, etc. The OS is being designed to work on screens of all sizes and form factors, and to not much surprise, Google wants voice control to be at the core of Fuchsia.

It’s certainly exciting to think that we may have a brand new operating system from Google in five years time, but as it’s noted here, Google’s “yet to sign off on any roadmap for Fuchsia.”

Are you looking forward to an Android successor?

The EU Antitrust case against Android sucks for everyone, especially you

Aukey’s mini Bluetooth speaker is down to its lowest price ever right now

Big sound from a small package.

Aukey is well-known for making great accessories for our gadgets, including charging gear and Bluetooth add-ons. This mini Bluetooth speaker is no exception, and right now you can pick one up for its lowest price ever, just $14.99. It normally sells for almost double this.

Don’t let the small package fool you, though. It has a 5W speaker inside and offers 10 hours of playback per charge. If you don’t want everyone connecting their phone to your speaker via Bluetooth you can opt to use the Aux connection or microSD card slot instead. It also has a built-in mic which allows you to not only listen to music on it but also take phone calls when needed.

This speaker is backed by a 45-day money back guarantee and a 24-month warranty from Aukey.

See at Amazon